The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) along with fellow founding partners NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and NIKE, Inc. announced today the ten innovators selected to participate in their LAUNCH: Energy challenge. LAUNCH is a unique initiative formed to identify solutions to the world's most urgent sustainability challenges. The focus of this year's challenge is energy, and the finalists have been chosen for their groundbreaking ideas for the provision of more sustainable energy sources and improved access to energy for both developed and developing world populations.

Denise A. Herbol was sworn in today as the U.S. Agency for International Development's Jamaica Mission Director. A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Herbol leaves her post as Senior Deputy Mission Director for USAID's mission in Islamabad, Pakistan where she helped manage a staff of more than 240 employees since September 2010.

A U.S. Government delegation, consisting of representatives from USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Justice and Commerce traveled to El Salvador to sign a Joint Statement of Principles with the Government of El Salvador. The agreement will formally implement the Partnership for Growth initiative between the United States and El Salvador.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Friday, November 4th,Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will travel to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA) to deliver remarks on the importance of civilian and military partnerships in furthering America's economic and security needs through diplomacy, defense and development.

Addressing the 63rd Student Conference of US Affairs (SCUSA), Dr. Shah's visit marks the first time that a sitting USAID Administrator has visited USMA.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was born out of a spirit of progress, innovation and a reflection of American’s values, character and a fundamental belief in doing the right thing. President John F. Kennedy recognized the need to unite development into a single agency to maximize expertise. In 1961, USAID was created. Since that time, USAID has been a quiet force for progress, fostering a more peaceful and secure world.

President John F. Kennedy recognized the need to unite development into a single agency to maximize expertise. In 1961, USAID was created. Since that time, USAID has been a quiet force for progress, fostering a more peaceful and secure world.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the 14th edition of its 2010 NGO Sustainability Index (NGOSI), a key analytical tool that measures the progress of NGOs in the Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia (E&E) region. The Index tracks the progress of the NGO sector in twenty-nine countries over the past fourteen years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In honor of USAID's 50th Anniversary, Agency Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah and former Administrators Henrietta Fore, Andrew Natsios, Brian Atwood (via video) and Peter McPherson will participate in a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and Chevron Corporation. The discussion will focus on USAID accomplishments in helping developing nations and advancing American values internationally over the past half-century as well as the future of the Agency and U.S.

In response to the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is joining the Ad Council to launch a national public awareness campaign. The campaign encourages Americans to spread awareness of the crisis, support the humanitarian organizations conducting the relief operations, and learn more about the solutions through President Obama's Feed the Future initiative.

USAID today handed over five speedboats to South Sudan's Jonglei State government, to help state authorities deter threats to community security in a part of South Sudan that has experienced significant intercommunal violence this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development announced that it will invest in an innovative new credit product that could unleash the economic potential of entrepreneurs in the developing world.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, joined Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Rick Leach, president and CEO, World Food Program USA, in honoring the contributions made by Howard G. Buffett and Bill Gates in reducing global hunger on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Department of State. He released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, will join Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Rick Leach, president and CEO, World Food Program USA, in honoring the contributions made by Howard G. Buffett and Bill Gates in reducing global hunger on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Department of State. The conference is expected to gather more than 250 leaders to discuss the importance of public and private sector efforts in addressing global hunger.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Beth Paige took the oath of office today as the new U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Jordan. USAID Counselor Hilda Arellano presided over the ceremony and administered the oath.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffeemakers, announced that they will work together to strengthen social, economic and environmental development in coffee growing communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development and HP today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is intended to help both organizations address urgent needs of the world's poorest people. USAID and HP will seek to collaborate on projects that promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs, global health, the development of responsible mineral trading systems and other programs that support economic opportunity through entrepreneurship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Raj Shah presented USAID’s 2011 Global Development Alliance Excellence Award to “Helping Babies Breathe (HBB).” HBB is a partnership with Laerdal Medical, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Save the Children, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - USAID and Swiss Re today announced a three-year partnership to help vulnerable communities fight hunger, build resilience to climate change, and reduce the costs of natural disasters in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development today announced two new public-private partnerships in Kingston, Jamaica, designed to promote economic growth and increase educational opportunities for Jamaica's neediest people.

The Jamaican National Building Society, one of Jamaica's oldest banks, will work with USAID to create the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative, designed to create and incubate social enterprises in poor communities. The Initiative seeks to increase investment in poor communities and bring more people into the formal economy.

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), addressed hundreds of World Vision staff members at their U.S. headquarters in Federal Way, Washington.